The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1887-03-31
JIMMY RoWELL.
And How He Rescued Little Kit
tie Nichols.

tie Nichols
Noon glared upon the wide, scared
flats and the rickety buildings of Plain
vile. It was the midday of that brief
season-the "St. Martins Summer" of
the Frenchman-which, between No
vember and December, lends a passing
brightness to the sky and warmth to the
air. Not a flake of snow lay on the
withered grass; no frost had yet bound
the soil; only the long howl of the
gale, morning and evening, suggested
the period of storms. Even old set
tiers, whose staunch champions of the
superior days hat were. owned the
matchless beauty and serenity of the
season.
The desolate station hustled that
day with unusual activity. Ponies
were fastened, singly or in groups. at
the different hitching-places. Men
were saddling them, loosening straps,
adjusting buckles, ordering, criticising,
chatting one another in the reckless
fashion of the West. where they joke
over every thing, from a murder up to
IN Indian raid. That the present ex-
citement, however, had a slighter
cause might be inferred from the
crowds unchecked and extravagant
mirth.
They were to have started at sunrise,
and of course were nearly ready by
noon Having waited so long the party
moved an adjournment for dinner.
The proposition finding favor sundry
fires were kindled, and the air made
fragrant with the steam from boiling
coffee and frying pork. Talk flew
back and forth, as the rough cooks
moved about The keen wit of the
frontier is the keenest at meal times.
Dinner being dispatched, the last loi-
terer Vas springing to the saddle when
q boy of about sixteen, mounted on a
weary1ooking white pony, rode up to
the group.
Heaven save usi" growled a tall
fellow to his neighbor. ..Ef thar amt
Jimmy Rowell. always late and never
left. I'll be-blessed. eff I wouldn't
like to give the little rooster a shakin'
for his impotence"
don't tell him SOL returned the
other, laughing shortly. Lets ride
on, Jake"
s.Not muchr' said Jake, facing the
newcomer with a scowl meant to be
impressive.
Long Jake's scowl was calculated to
make an impression. He was a lean,
dark-browed fellow, with a skin hard
and brown as leather, deep-set, keen
black eyes, and a struggling black
beard. One cheek was strangely de.
formed, by a long, repulsiye scar,
which, perhaps, gave rise to the report
that he had been a guerrilla. He had
not been long in that district, and,
though expert in the arts of the cattle.
camp. was not a general fayorite.
To Jim Rowell he had taken a posi-
tive dislike, as cordially returned. TIL,
two seldom met without a word,
skirmish. in which the elder was ofter
worsted, to the great delight of hi,
comrades. Jim, with his daring spirit
his bold. ready replies. and uncommon
.-smartness.n was a kind of a ne
NON them-a position not alway
tending 10 further his best interests.
@Well. JIM announced Jake. sol
emnlvs ..ef ID . how with NO NOR
sense than you'ye pot I'd kill hin
while ha was easv To kill. that's all
What's up now?'
Nothing, " retorted the bow, quiet
" peeling his willow switch. ..excep
that they're going to hang Won in tn
morning.
A hurst; Of laughter preeted thi
speech. and the berder. turning hi
horses head rode off at sfnlI sneed
Jimmy and his friends fo,,ow;no sn;,
..Wbat bronght you mn IN snch
hurry. vounp manp1 asked the ston,
;ollv Al Tbomnson. ..D;d Won hes
where we were roinopn
..Non answerad Hmmn 10Th.
r,oom;lv. "A little o;rl,s been 10,
down onr wavl and tbey,re hunting f.
bor .rarv whsra Itbo,oht como 5od
round, here MIGHT have seen he,
Where are all Won fellows GOING an,
howp Farpn
.Well I sbonld rather ;edoe q,
Won know old Abep,
.sThat h;o br;nd,e steer NO one 90
catchpn
0.The game Tom .Jenk;ns cal,s hi,
b;s,n Int 7 h,l;eve he was With min,
$50 - o.m. - ~ go t. H.
matt.r Har;oht h,,onr - tha da1;
for No fence bin st.n, ao;n hin, We
we,re al ooo;n, 70 HINT him down or
-, hat ,,a7y 49, .oma f,nm
at .,;sh oo,,ia 90 ~ s;ahad I;um.
Come r;ebt alono. then" was Il